Bishop’s Stortford end four-game winless run with 5-4 home success over Pelicans in East Men’s Hockey League

Bishop’s Stortford ended their four-game winless run with an impressive 5-4 home success over Pelicans in the East Men’s Hockey League, Premier Division on Saturday (November 23).

The hosts triumphed in a nine-goal thriller against the third-placed side, who could have gone top had results gone their way.

The result leaves the first team, who had drawn three consecutive matches, in seventh place with 15 points from nine outings.

The second team beat the third team 4-2 when the sides met for an inter-club derby in Division 2SW.

The fourth team drew 2-2 at Royston II in 4SW while the fifth team were 3-1 home winners over Harpenden III in 5SW.

Marcus Taylor struck twice as the sixth team beat their West Herts counterparts 7-4 in 6SW.

Freddie Taylor, Fred Cooke, Simon Fox, Richard Turner and Jeevan Basra were also on target in the home victory.

The seventh (development) team were pegged back as they drew 2-2 at Hitchin-based MBDA in 7SW.

Efforts from James Brocks and Jim Tatchell - the latter’s being a goal-of-the-season contender - put the visitors two up, but the hosts levelled matters despite some fine saves by Jeremy Allardyce.

In the East Women’s League, the first team won 4-1 at City of Peterborough to move four points clear at the summit.

All of the goals came after the break as Lexie Guthrie, Liv Smerdon, Katherine Langridge and Kate Flintoff found the net while Liv Locke’s defensive efforts earned her the player-of-the-match award.

Nicky Bareham bagged a brace to help the second team beat their Upminster counterparts 3-1 in 1S.

Zoe Bovaird was also on target for the hosts, for whom Emma Hynds made a vital goal-line clearance when they were one goal ahead.

Charlotte Range got the only goal of the game as the third team saw off Shefford & Sandy 1-0 in a fiery 2SW contest.

Lois Wright got a consolation in the fourth team’s 4-1 defeat at Bedford IV in 3SW while, in the same division, the fifth team got the better of Stevenage III 2-1.

The sixth team, who had to start with 10 players as their goalkeeper got delayed, lost 9-0 at Crostyx II in 3SE.

Nyla Smith and Megan Laws netted for the seventh team in their 2-2 draw at Bedford VI in 5SW.

Libby Hodges was named player of the match for her impactful passing and relentless effort.

Mia Beverley scored and captain Kerrie Chapman earned the player-of-the-match prize as the eighth team lost 2-1 at home to Stevenage V in 6SW while the ninth team thumped visitors Chiltern II 9-0 in 7SW.